“Do not expect your deposit to be returned as a tenant...”
1 Star Review
Aug 18,2019
By:
'Judy'
Aug 18,2019
Branch: Preston, 206 Black Bull Lane
Services: Lettings (as a Tenant)
Would you recommend?: No
Postcode: PR2
Branch: Preston, 206 Black Bull Lane
Lettings (as a Tenant)
Postcode: PR2
3
people found
this helpful
As a tenant with Easthams for 2 years, we have been met with unprofessional and abrupt emails from staff when leaving the property.
The process at the start of the tenancy was good and largely problem free. We ensured we had sufficient photos taken with our camera for comparison as the check in tenancy agreement photos are thumbnail blurry black and white photos.
During our 2 year tenancy, regular 3 monthly house inspections took place and the Easthams agent made lots of notes on iPad. There was a few small issues we had raised which were addressed. We had passed each inspection with no problems raised by Easthams. We had a direct deposit for rent and paid rent on time every month.
Unfortunately, the manner changed considerably when the deposit of £750 was due to be returned at the end of tenancy.
A house inspection had taken place a few weeks prior to moving out and we had passed again with no issues.
The landlord wanted access to the property to do some gardening maintenance a few weeks before moving out date. No issues were mentioned.
The sign out document for our tenancy concluded that the kitchen and bathroom needed cleaning and the back garden needed ‘considerable amount of work’ which would be extremely expensive.
The sign out document was only shown to us when requested.
The photos taken on this document at the end of tenancy were taken with a much better digital camera with flash on to see every detail on the hob for example. Pictures were taken at different angles and lots more were taken at check out document. We had ensured all the rooms were cleaned to a high standard as we were presented with when we moved in (with evidence in our own photos).
The back garden was actually in better condition than when we had moved in 2 years prior and we had regularly maintained the garden ourselves.
When we were discussing these issues, unfortunately the estate agent was very abrupt, condescending and verging on rude.
To add insult to injury, the landlord had written us a goodbye card prior to moving out stating that we have been good tenants and the neighbours will miss us and they wish us all the best in the future!
In the end, after negotiating with Easthams, they did not charge for the garden maintenance job but have charged £85 for cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom.
I would avoid this estate agent as a tenant at ALL costs. They will fail to mention anything during the inspection but they will be looking to deduct from your deposit and their manner will change completely when you are no longer a customer with them.
3
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Thanks for your review.
You were excellent tenants and we always felt that we had a good relationship with you throughout your tenancy with us.
However when it comes to the hand back we have to carry out an independent check out inspection/report that is then passed to the landlords who then make the decision on whether they wish to make a claim or not, we have no say in this. In this instance they requested to claim for cleaning of the kitchen as it hadn't been done properly which you then agreed to, so I am confused as to why given this you have now blamed it on us and given us a 1 star review ?!!!
Making deductions from deposits is that last thing we want to have to do at the end of a tenancy and does not benefit us in anyway (it actually cost us time and money), if you had followed the detailed cleaning checklist given to you on the handback prior to you moving out this deduction could have been avoided.
Kind Regards
Matt